Chapter 56: ~Aftermath.~ (1/2)
***Norfolk, Sarn-Valley, Southern Col***
***Ascathon***
“The clean-up will take us quite some time.” I look down at the pass-road and wince. “What a waste. This is a major trading route. Look at it now! It will take us months until a carriage can pass the col again.”
“If a certain someone had been faster, then there would be less damage. We had to bombard it to rubble in order to keep the enemy troops at bay.” Den throws an accusing look at me.
I am currently sitting in a wheel chair. The fucking poison was strong, I still can't move properly. Not even Celes could do much with all her medical knowledge. After she carried me back, she took some blood samples with her needles and cut some tissue samples off of me too! It took quite a while and I had the feeling that she was actually torturing me. Then she ran off to analyse them.
I was placed in a camp bed in her tent. At least some guards could organize the wheel chair for me.
So I headed out to take a look at the situation. There are still plenty of enemies left, but their supplies got destroyed during our bombardment. They are currently executing an organized retreat back the way they came.
It doesn't make any sense to me to hinder their retreat. They are leaving our land and that's exactly what we want. There will be more than enough deaths on their way back. Reaching the next town by foot will take them about two weeks.
Walking such a distance without food is harsh. I guess most of them will turn into bandits and rogue elements on their way back. Our intelligence says that the principality on our southern border assisted them with supplies, so I have no qualms about letting the retreating army loose on my neighbours.
“There he is!”
I look around and see Celestial with Sera. “Argh! No! Not again! Den, hold them off while I flee!” I turn my wheelchair and start turning the wheels with my arms.
“What's wrong.” Den looks confused in Celestial's direction.
But I don't get far. Celestial materializes out of thin air in front of me and I bump into her. Looking back, I see that Sera is waddling into our direction. Celestial's skills become more frightening each day!
“What are you thinking!? To run around in a condition like that!” She grabs the grips of my wheel chair and turns me around. Back into the direction of the medical facilities!
I grab the wheels and try to hold them with all my might. “I am okay! The poison is weakening and I can move my arms just fine!” But Celestial relentlessly continues to push the wheelchair forward.
I admit that I can't win this fight and let go of the wheels. “There is much to do! Why can't I at least take a look at the current situation.”
Den steps out of the way and I am brought back to Celestial's private tent. Arriving there, she instructs the guards not to let anyone inside. Then she rolls me inside. The tent is actually nothing like a normal tent would be.
It's huge, luxurious and the room inside spans at least ten square metres. “Celestial? Why are you so silent? If there is something you want to say, say it. I can take harsh news.”
Sera follows us inside and the guards close the entrance to give us some privacy. I am rolled a little farther into the tent and then Celestial pulls the breaks of the wheelchair and walks around to face me.
Suddenly she kneels down and gets into a dogeza-position in front of me.
“I am sorry!”
“Hah!?” What's wrong!? Am I going to die!? No. That wouldn't be so bad! Am I going to be paralysed for life!? I already experienced such a life! Please kill me if it's that!
“I am sorry for all the times I mistreated you at the Academy. And for blackmailing you into the current situation, while always thinking of my own good! I will at least try to be a proper wife from now on! So please forgive me.” Celestial looks up again.
I close my mouth which fell open during her speech. “Hrm. I must admit, you surprised me … wait a moment! What does that have to do with the current situation!?” I point my index finger at Celestial. Something is fishy!
Then I realize that her eyes aren't focused at me, but at something at my side. My head snaps to Sera, who is standing behind me. She immediately hides her hands. Was that sign language? “Sera? Do you have something to say? For example why your mother is acting strange all of a sudden?”
“~No. I am just a moral help. Everything she says are her true feelings.~”
I squint my eyes. “Sure. But the woman I know as Celestial would never apologize for something like that.”
“~That's why I am here! I had a long and serious talk with my mother. About the past, before I was born. And I deemed it necessary that she has to apologize.~”
“I see. But I still have the feeling that you found a weak point of hers. Tell me!” I look deep into Sera's eyes.
~Daddy. Don't you always say yourself that someone should never show all his cards. But you are deviating from the issue here. And that is to clear some things up. Celestial apologized. Now it's your turn!~
Hah!? This little critter! “I have nothing to apologize for!”
Sera shakes her head.
“~Haaah... that's why I deem it necessary to become active. Dad. You treated mom like a slave for quite some time. And while you might think that it was a proper way to get back at her, it wasn't okay! So apologize now, and then we can start to work on other issues.~”
“I hope you realize that you are talking to your father? There are some things which I can't tolerate in our relationship!” I look down at Sera, who is biting on her lip while thinking.
“~I will tell everyone about the treasure box!~”
My mind freezes. “I don't know what you are talking about.”
“~In your lab. Hidden under a stone slate. There is a box with a false bottom. And inside...~”
I reach for Sera, but she evades with more grace than I would have believed possible and dances out of reach.
“~Do I have to speak further.~”
I form a fist with my hand. “Such an apology has no meaning!”
“~But it's a start!~”
Tch! I haul myself out of the chair and get down in front of Celestial. “I am sorry for everything I have done to you! And I accept your apology!”